Grate-block lock



H. VICK.

GRATE BLOCK LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB, 3, 1919.

I390,816 Pandsept. 13,1921.

HENRY VICIL OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GRATE-BLOCK LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. i3, litigi.

Application led February 3, 1919. Serial No. 274,652.

To all iti/0m t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY VIoK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Grate-Block Locks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

I-Ieretofore in the construction of continuous grates the grate blocks have been disposed in transverse rows across the grate, with the blocks in each row secured in position to a single tranversely grooved supporting beam by means of a single long bolt projecting longitudinally through the beam and through projections formed on said blocks, which projections are engaged in the grooves of said beam. This arrangement for the mounting of grate blocks has proven unsatisfactory for the reason that when one of the blocks in a row becomes damaged it 4cannot be removed without releasing all of the blocks in the row by the remo-val of the locking bolt.

This invention relates to an improved form of an easily removable independent grate lock for each of the grate blocks of a continuous grate, to permit independent removal of any of the grate blocks whennecessary without disturbing any of the other blocks of the grate.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved lock for grate blocks.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a locking member adapted to securely lock a grate block in position on a grate chain to permit independent removal of the block when necessary.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a locking plate adapted to removably7 secure a grate block in position on a grate chain.

A furtherV object of the invention is the construction of a continuous grate wherein the grate blocks are engaged in slots provided in the grate chain members and wherein each block is held locked in position by an independently removable locking member.

It is furthermore an object of this invention to construct a locking plate adapted to be engaged in a grate between the slotted chain and a grate block engaged in a slotl thereof, said locking plate adapted to have the ends thereof bent to hold said block against removal from its engagement with said chain.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a continuous grate having locking members adapted to permit independent removal of the grate blocks as the blocks are moved into position to pass around the driving members in the ends of the grate chain.

@ther and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and drawings. l

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary transverse sec* tional view of acontinuous grate mechanism equipped with grate block locking members embodying the principles of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal seetional view of the grate taken on line 2--2.`

of Fig. l.

Fig; 3 is an end elevation of a grate block shown locked in position engaged in a retain# ing slot of a fragmentary portion of a transverse grate beam.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section taken on line 41;-4, of Fig. 3.

Fig. is an enlarged detail section taken on line 5-5, of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a grate block.

As'shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral l, indicates the supporting framework of a continuous grate, said framework having mounted longitudinally on opposite sides thereof spaced rails or tracks 2, upon which grate wheels 3, are adapted te roll. The continuous grate comprises a plurality of spaced parallel transverse cross-bars or beams 4, each having rigidly secured near each end of one side thereof apertured link members 5. and on the opposite side apertured leg link members 6. The link members on opposite sides of each of the beams a. are securely held in position by means of bolts 7. Extending transversely through the lower portion of each of the leg links 6, is an axle or shaft 8, for supporting a pair of the grate wheels 3. As shown in Ifig. 2, the links 5, of each beam are pivotally connected to the leg link members 6, of an adjacent beam by means of pivot pins 9, to form a continuous grate chain which has the end portions thereof trained or engaged around driving gears or other suitable driving means for operating the grate chain.

The upper portion of each grate beam 4, is enlarged as denoted by the reference numeral 10, and has cnt or formed transversely in the upper part thereof `a plurality of spaced dovetail slots or mortises 11. Mounted upon each of thebea-ms 4, are a plurality of adjacently disposed grate tread blocks, each of unitary construction and embracing a middle body portion 12, having integrally formed centrally on one side .thereof an arm 18. Integrally formed on the opposite side of the body portion 12, is a pair of arms or forks 14, separated from each other by a slot or opening 15, which is Wider than the width of the arm 13. Formed integrally on the middle portion 12, is a dovetail projection, rib or tenon 16, shaped to permit the same to be slidably engaged in one of the dovetail slots 11.

Each of the grate beams 4, has mounted thereon a plurality of adjacently disposed grate tread blocks to form a transverse row, and as shown in Fig. 2, the arms 1S, of one row of blocks project into the openings 15, between the forks 14, of the row of blocks adjacent thereto. The blocks thus assembled afford a suitable grate tread. grate blocks has the flaring tenon 1G, thereof slidably-engaged in one of the dovetail slots 11. The construction of the slots 11,V and the tenons 16, prevent the blocks from being lifted upwardly away from or out of en# gagement with the beam on which they are mounted. To lock the grate blocks against being displaced by sliding out of either end of the dovetail slots 11, grate block locks are provided to permit each block to be independently locked in position on a grate beam.

Each grate bloclr lock comprises a metal plate 17, having the ends thereof centrally slit or cut for a short distance to form four integral tongues or lugs 18, '19, 2O and 21, respectively. To lock a block in position the, plate 17is engaged in a dovetail slot 11, below the bottom surface of the bloclr tenon 16, and the lugs 18 and 21. are bent upwardly at right angles to engage the end surfaces of the tenon 1G, while the lugs 19 and 20, are bent downwardly at right anv gles to engage against the side surfaces of the top portion beam 4. Each grate block can therefore be locked in position independently of the other i Each of the 10, of the respective gratev blocks to permit independent removal of any one of the grate blocks should they become damaged or otherwise unfit for further use.

.The independent removal of a block` from the continuous grate without disturbing or loosening any of the other blocks is4 easily accomplished by simply moving the grate until the damaged block is moved into a position where the grate chain turns downwardly around the grate driving gears. In such a position theblocks of adjacent transverse rows of blocks are tipped at an angle with respect to each other permitting a tool to be engagedV downwardly through' the opening 15, of the damaged block to engagev the lugs 18 and19, and bend thesame back into the plane of the respective plate 17. lVhen this is done the damaged block may be slid out of its dovetail slot 11, and another block may be substituted therefor and secured in position by again bending the lugs 18 and 19, upwardly and downwardly respectively. Y

It will be noted that the use of individual locks for use in combination with dovetail joints formed between the grate blocks and transverse grate beams of a continuous grate is new and simple, and obviates the drilling of the grate blocks and beams to permit the same to receive retaining or locking bolts.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

The combination with grate members having dovetail slots therein, of grate blocks, dovetail tenons integrally formed on said blocks and engaging in said slots, a locking plate ineach of said slots below the block tenon therein, and oppositely directed lugs integrally formed on the ends of each of said plates adapted to removably engage the ends of said block tenons and the sides of said grate members to hold said blocks locked in position, said lugs at either end of a plate adapted to be bent into the plane of the plate to permit independent removal of any one of said blocks from its respective grate member when necessary.

Intestimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing` witnesses. v

` l HENRY VIGK. lVitnesses EARL M. HARDINE, CHARLES IV. HILLS, Jr. 

